Controversy erupts over Bengal CM's remarks alleging wrong treatment at SSKM Hospital

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent remarks alleging that her infection on the leg had become septic due to alleged wrong treatment in the state government-owned SSKM Hospital in the city has triggered a political row.

Referring to the issue, the Opposition BJP has demanded the resignation of CM Banerjee, who directly oversees the State Health Department.

Banerjee reportedly visited the state-owned hospital in south Kolkata on September 24, 2023, immediately after returning from Spain and the UAE. She left for Spain on September 12 after a one-night stopover in Dubai in a bid to attract investments in the state. She visited Madrid and Barcelona, adds UNI.

She visited the SSKM Hospital for the treatment of an injury to her left knee on September 24. She had suffered an injury to her already injured left knee.

A series of tests, including an MRI, was conducted on her. She was advised rest for 10 days. In July, Banerjee undertook a microsurgery at the SSKM to reduce pain in the left knee, following an injury while alighting from a chopper after an emergency landing near Siliguri in June.

However, the Chief Minister of Bengal, also the health minister, on Wednesday told reporters at Nabanna (the state secretariat) that "her infection had become septic because of wrong treatment."

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She admitted that she could not get up for seven days as she was administered saline through a channel in her arm. "Due to the wrong treatment, my infection became septic. The way saline channels are made in the arm, I was in that situation for seven days. I could not get up," she explained.

Reacting to her statement, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has demanded her resignation. "The health minister should resign after her wrong treatment in the SSKM Hospital," the Nandigram MLA said on his social media X.

"This health facility (SSKM) is a top quality government hospital, and this has been converted into a safe haven for the thieves and dacoits and resulting with the wrong treatment," Adhikari alleged.

"Under this incompetent health minister the premier hospital's doctors are remaining busy making false paperwork under the administrative pressure and doing less medical services," BJP leader Adhikari further claimed.

Meanwhile, BJP's Lok Sabha member Dilip Ghosh on Thursday demanded a showcase notice to the health minister for a statement on the SSKM Hospital and said if the VVIP likes the Chief Minister then what happens to the common people.

He demanded the issuance of the show-cause notice to the health minister for her comment and the resignation of the chief minister first. Ghosh questioned why the chief minister cannot walk for more than a month which should also be investigated and reiterated that the BJP for long has been raining the issues of the alleged breakdown of the health system in West Bengal.

"We know that the people are not getting proper treatment in the government hospitals across the state owing to inadequate medical practitioners, nurses as well as the availability of medicines," said Ghosh adding "Even "dogs and cats roam around the floors of the wards and in the hospital premises."

He mentioned, "We also know that many top quality medics are attached to the SSKM Hospital, then why the wrong treatment to a VVIP" and asked then where the poor people would go for treatment in the state.

Also Read: West Bengal CM visits SSKM Hospital for health check-up